A conservative commentator who used artificial intelligence to create a parody video of Vice President Kamala Harris is suing California, arguing that recent laws banning AI-generated political content violate his constitutional rights. Christopher Kohls, known online as “Mr. Reagan,” filed the lawsuit after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation aimed at curbing the spread of digitally altered deepfakes in political campaigns.
The lawsuit claims the laws infringe on Kohls’ First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights, asserting that political satire, whether created by AI or traditional methods, is a protected form of free speech.
In July, Kohls posted a video that mimicked Harris’ voice using AI, portraying her as “the ultimate diversity hire” in a mock campaign ad. The video quickly went viral after it was shared by X owner Elon Musk without being labeled as parody.
Newsom, who criticized the video, vowed to act swiftly to ban such AI-altered content, citing concerns over the potential for misinformation to influence elections.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, he signed laws targeting fraudulent campaign materials, including those generated with artificial intelligence.
Kohls’ lawsuit challenges these laws, claiming that the state is attempting to make political satire illegal and restrict his ability to use AI in his content. He argues that the laws could suppress free expression in political discourse, especially as AI becomes more commonly used in media.
Legal experts say the case could set a precedent for how AI-generated content is regulated in future elections and whether existing free speech protections extend to digital parodies.
Newsom’s office has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
